§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what mechanisms prevent the Scottish and Welsh Offices from competing against(a) each other and (b) her Department for inward investment. [52597]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer 27 July 1998]: Neither Scotland, Wales, or any other part of the UK do not compete with my Department for inward investment. The Invest in Britain Bureau chairs the Committee on Overseas Promotion, part of whose role is to monitor rules agreed by Departments to avoid wasteful competition between the inward investment agencies of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the English regions.
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§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if she has completed her discussions on the co-ordination of inward investment; and when she expects to announce her conclusions; [52598]
(2) when the Concordat on Inward Investment will be published. [52599]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer 27 July 1998]: There will be an announcement when, through collective discussion and agreement, Ministers have concluded arrangements which will ensure that offers made to inward investors are value for money for the taxpayer and fair to all parts of the UK.